the eternal song

At the request of my friend Jennifer, I am posting something I wrote for a hiking/camping trip that the young adults from remembrance church went on near Lake Michigan a month or so ago...

Ok. Stop. Cease striving, and wait patiently, expectantly. Listen. Hear the rhythm of your breathing, of your heartbeat and then listen all around you...to the waves, the trees, the birds. All proclaiming the Glory of God and at first it seems so subtle, so nonchalant, but if you just listen and watch. Listen to their testimony of His goodness, watch them proclaim His faithfulness. Notice the persistence, the relentlessness of the waves, crash, crash, crash, never stopping always working, so relentless is His love for you. The trees, rooted so deep, and yet the tiptops are so sensative to the wind, will go with the slightest breeze. So you, see how Christ wants you rooted deeply in His love, standing firm, yet recognizing, be sensative to moving with every move of the Spirit. And the birds, hear their joyful chorus. Join in, for they sing a new song and we must join them. Read Psalm 98 and Isaiah 55:12. Creation is calling out, proclaiming his glory. They are joining into the song that has been sung since Jesus took His spot at the right hand of the Father. Read Revelation 4. Really try to picture it, see creation around you joining in and then even yourself, if you're so bold. really just take a few minutes and listen, and join in. Sing the New Song, the song of the Lamb. Salvation is now. Just as the trees, the waves, the grass, the birds are doing what they were made to do. You too were made to live lives of worship and abundant life. Let Holy Spirit guide you into the presence of the King and you will be a changed person. Let Him pour the sweet refreshing Fountain of Life over you. Feel it. Let him soften your hearts and restore unto you the joy of your salvation. Salvation is now, it's not, wait until you die and then start praising Him. Join in the eternal song. Learn from the creation around you, see how everything is a shadow of what's to come. Watch, listen, and then join in, relax and let your heart be molded in His presence.

What makes your heart hard? What makes it so hard to just sit and listen and worship? What is most distracting in your life right now? What needs to get cut out, what needs to get brought in? How ca we, as the church around you, best serve you? What are you guarding your heart so closely? What are you afraid of? The purpose of God cannot be thwarted (Job 42:2). Read Job 42:2-6. What is your response? Will you join the eternal song...now?

New Hampshire/Vermont

God has blessed me with great opportunities to share His love and to enjoy Him through relationships and through His creation. I am done with my New Hampshire/Vermont stint of my trip and arrived on the Mass. north shore last night. In New Hampshire I reconnected with my old roommates from college the first weekend, and throughout the week ended up helping out at the school that Amy (my old volleyball coach) works at. I helped chaperon a 7th grade trip to Old Sturbridge Village, I taught gym class for 3rd grade and 5th grade one day. I thought I was better at dodge ball, but the 3rd graders definitely showed me up. The main reason I came to New Hampshire was to help with the high school trip to Boston, but I ended up helping with the vermont trip instead, which i loved because i got to spend more time working with Amy,

and we camped on a farm
and we ate good food
and went hiking
and had solo time where we could just be quite and listen out in the woods near a stream
and we got to dig a grave for a blind sheep
and we got to trim some trees
and go sailing on Lake Champlainand build relationships with high schoolers and demonstrate a life lived for Christ

anyway, i had an excellent time.

a way where there is no way

Today I was reading 2 kings 6 & 7.  I'll give you my brief synopsis.  OK, so there's famine in Samaria, so bad that some are even eating their children. There's the opposing Syrian army camped just out side the city. Inflation is at an all time high.  It all looks so hopeless, doubt and despair fills the city. Hunger, disease and death are everywhere.  But once again God offers a way where there is no way.  The Syrians hear a large army approaching quickly and assume somehow the Israelites have gotten some assistance from another area.  They flee quickly leaving everything burdensome behind, discarding more stuff as they go along their way.  Little do they know, there is actually no army approaching, but God has only made them think that there was.  Soon the Israelites discover that the Syrians have fled their camp and left all their belongings behind.  Skeptical at first the Israelites finally loot the Syrian camp.  Prices drop back to normal and the town is saved. God provided for the Israelites, not because of the boldness of the city, or because they deserved it, but because of His grace.  Elisha alone declared it and believed it would happen.  This story reminded me to believe when things are hopeless.  when there appeared to be no way to God, He provided a way through Jesus.  When things appear hopeless in your life, cry out to Jesus, God will provide a way where there is no way.

its for the birds...

Last year I made a birdhouse and hung it out behind my grandparents house. It was for a certain type of bird that I can't think of the name right now of, but to my dismay not one chose it as a place of habitation. But to my great joy this year it looks like some nuthatchers (a blue&black little bird) have started building a nest, they look like they are enjoying it so much and are quite busy. They will have a safe place to bring new life into the world and be protected from storms and predators. Now, go with me here for second. It may be a stretch. Think of the birdhouse as the foundation, just like Jesus. God offers us Christ and He is the safe place. Just as the jew rejected him, so too the other bird that the birdhouse was intended for rejected the birdhouse. Just as I am taking delight that these birds are abiding in my birdhouse, God takes delight when we abide in Christ. Just as I do not force the birds to choose my birdhouse (not could I if I wanted too), God does not force us to choose Christ, but offers Him for all, hoping that all will choose Him. Just as I know storms and predators will come, i delight that the birds have a refuge to go to, a place to rest and be protected. God too tells us that storms and predators will come into our lives, but we can find refuge, rest and protection in Christ Jesus. Just as the birds use the birdhouse to bring new life into the world, God uses Christ to bring new life to us. Thank you Father that you teach us about yourself everywhere we look. That you do not hide yourself from us, but reveal your love through even the simple lesson of the birdhouse. Thank you Jesus for being our refuge, a place of new life, for allowing us to abide in you. Father constantly remind us that you delight in us, not because we are somehow able to build a life that meets your satisfaction, but just because you love us.

inheritance

I was reading in Numbers 32 the other day about the time when the Isrealites were just getting ready to cross the Jordan and enter into the promised land, finally. Well the Reubenites and Gadites (two of the twelve tribes bound for the promised land) wanted to stay on this side of the Jordan because the land was good for their flocks, at first Moses was upset with them thinking they were wimping out. Finally he told them that they could have that land for their inheritance as long as they sent all their warring men over the Jordan and helped the other Isrealites claim their inheritance. The Ruebenites and Gadites promised, "We will not return to our homes until each of the people of Israel has gained his inheritance."v18. God asked me, would you be willing to do this? would you be willing to continue to fight for the Lord away from home until each of my children has gained their inheritance? It's a hard question. I already have my eternity secured, I've been given my inheritance from Christ, but will I do battle for the Lord so that others may recieve their inheritance as well? Will I stay comfortably in my home or in my promise of Heaven or will I go out and fight against the evil one, and love others to Jesus. I chose this way of love or discomfort, because though it is most likely more difficult, others will be able to recieve their glorious inheritance. Other's lives will be transformed by Christ and that makes every trial worth it. Because God will get the glory that He deserves.

Father love

"My Father sees, my Father hears, my Father knows." (andrew murray)  Sometimes I forget that my Father already knows what's happening to me, that it's not a surprise when I can't find a job or my car breaks down with no backup in mind.  He sees, He hears, and yes He knows. He knows that I will inevitably cry out to Him, wondering why.  Yet He is patient with me, more patient with me then I am with my self I reckon.  A lot of times I let the image of earthly dads limit my picture of the Eternal everlasting Father.  When i started thinking about it, I came up with a list to try to put together the perfect father, and here's what i came up with, though i'm sure it's not an exhaustive list, and am open to suggestions.  He holds me, laughs with me, explains things to me, teaches me, asks me questions (even when He knows the answers) listens to pointless stories, rejoices in my victories, loves my dedication and perseverance, helps me when i fall, speaks words of encouragement when i fail, and instructs me.  He disciplines me when i'm disobedient, he loves me more than I'll understand.  He plays with me, works with me, points different things out to me.  He shares his wisdom with me, shares meals, rewards me, does stuff for me, fixes things for me, picks me up, comes to my rescue, makes me know I'm beautiful, has long talks about life with me, tells me if he thinks a guy's good enough for me, always wants what's best for me which doesn't necessarily mean easiest...He loves me and shows me this in too many ways to count. To think as Jesus presented this picture of God to the disciples, the judgement law God would have to be transformed into this Father picture, not just having laws to have laws, but out of love, laws to show His love and care for His precious ones.  And going beyond the law to save us with His Son.  Mercy triumphing over judgement.  Thank you beloved Father. You never change, you never fail.

a strong stench arose

Well, it's not everyday you get dragged on your belly through dog poop so I thought I'd write about the occasion. I was letting the dog out after church and she had been in her crate for a couple of hours so she was quite excited to be free, and plus there was a half-duck, half-swan right along the lakefront (yeah, we're not really sure either...) so obviously she was excited about that, and couldn't wait to get out side. I had her sit, wait and and then I opened the door and innocently enough gave her the OK and she took off, I just happened to be on the other end of the leash and, well the dog is a lot faster then me, and before I knew it was running out the back door with her and down the back steps right toward the lake, but I couldn't keep up and too stubborn to let go of the leash was dragged down face first into the ground. I cut myself slack cuz I'm recovering from being sick and not at my full strength, and I give myself credit for managing to dive to the side and hit grass rather than cement. But I did end up letting go of the leash eventually, just a little too late and the damage had been done. As I stood up and assessed the damages and re-gathered the now wet dog, I noticed a somewhat strong smell raising up from very near me. Only to look down and realize it had not been just grass i slid through, but there was a little extra present from the dog that I managed to collect on myself. First it was just my sleeve and then a little on the right hand, oh and somehow on the left hand too, and oh wait on the sweatshirt too. well at least the jeans are still in good shape minus the grass stain. i go inside and start shedding layers only to find that the "present" had also ended up on my jeans and somehow under my shirt...so i decided there was no mistaking it, all clothes including jacket would go in the wash and i would go in the shower. and finally the ordeal was over...thanks Murf for helping wash my clothes. So then I ponder, what could i possibly learn from this, how is life compared to this? Here's what I came up with. Sin smells like poop to God, the smell of it is offensive to him, and it needs to be to us too. Because I didn't smell too bad to begin with, though it was almost time for a shower, I noticed the smell of poop right away and was disgusted by it. But had i just rolled in a little over time and let it sit, and kinda forget about it, I'd get used to it and so if i rolled in more poop somehow, I probably wouldn't notice as much, or wouldn't be so bothered because that's what I've been used to smelling. Same with sin. If we sin and don't immediately ask Christ to forgive and cleanse us, we start getting used to it, we convince ourselves, well that's not so bad. We don't notice how offensive it is to God and to those around us and to ourselves. We become so used to it and it becomes so much a part of us, that we go around all stinky and think things are just fine. (kinda like when I don't shower for a few days and my family notices my smell before I do...) We sin more and more and get deeper and deeper into sin and don't realize the stench that we are putting off. My prayer is that I would be so close to the heart of Christ that any even hint of sin in my life would be so offensive to me that I would run to Christ and ask him to forgive and cleanse. I do not want to be running around smelling like poop and not even know it, that would be terrible. And thank God that every time I roll around in smelly stuff and then come to realize I've messed up again, He is able to wash me clean by the blood of Jesus. My stench is never too great for Him to overcome with the precious bloood of Jesus. And that's something I do not want to abuse.

"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Isaiah 1:18